Automatic brake foe velocipedes



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

E. P. HOWE.

AUTOMATIC BRAKE FOR VELOGIPEDBS.

No. 330,027. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

N PETERS. Phom-Lmw m hnr. wamin mn. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. P. HOWE.

AUTOMATIC BRAKE FOR VELOGIPEDES. No. 330,027. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

N. PETERS, Phalo-Lilhogrnphl-r. Wnshingion. D. c.

1 I EINITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD P. HOWE, OF NORTHBOROUGH, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE-EIGHTHS TO CHARLES R.ROGERS AND JOHN J. SHAW, OF PLYMOUTH, MASS.

AUTOMATIC BRAKE FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SZPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,027, datedNovember 10, 1885.

Application filed May 31, 1884. Renewed August 31, 1885. Serial No.175,759.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. Hown, of Northborough, county ofWorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inAutomatic Brakes for Velocipedes, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, likeletters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention, relating to abrake for velocipedes, is shown as applied toa tricycle; and it consists, essentially, of an air-forcing device orpump actuated while the tricycle is in motion to produce anair-pressure, which, through suitable mechanism, acts upon a brakingdevice for the wheel of the vehicle to re tard it any usual manner, itbeing shown in this instance as applied to a band-brake, or one in whicha flexible band is drawn tightly around the hub or a drum connectedthere with, to produce friction, which will retard the rotation of thesaid hub and connected vehicle-wheel. The flow of the air may becontrolled by a cock or valve, so that by merely turning the said cookthe brake may be ap plied.

The air-forcing device is herein shown as employed to compress air whichwill act upon a piston connected with the brake.

It is preferable to employ a portion of the tubular frame-work as areservoir, which will contain the air under pressure until required forthe purpose of applying the brake to retard the velocipede.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a tricycle provided with an automaticbrake embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 an enlarged detail of thebrake mechanism by itself.

The main frame-work a, with the drivingwheel I) and its actuatingmechanism, and the steering-wheel 0, may be of any usual construction,the said driving-wheel or its rotating shaft or axle being provided withactuating mechanism, shown as an eccentric, d, operating a pitman, 6,connected with apiston or plunger, f, operating in a cylinder, 9, tocompress or force air, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is deliveredthrough a pipe, h, into a portion of the tubular frame-work, a, whichportion thus constitutes a reservoir, a, for the compressed air, and isprovided with a (N0. model.)

safety-valve, t, which permits the air to escape when its pressurereaches a certain point. The air thus compressed in the frame-work a maybe delivered through a pipe, it, into a 5 cylinder, at, where it willact on a piston, m, (shown in dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 2,) connected bya rod, n, with the braking device 0, shown as a lever pivoted at 0 uponthe frame-work, and provided with studs, oZ-connected with 6 theopposite ends of the brake-band 1), surrounding and adapted to pressagainst the hub or drum 1', fixed upon the axle or otherwise connectedwith the driving-wheel of the vehicle. 6 The admission of the airthrough the pipe is to the cylinder m for the purpose of applying thebrake may be controlled by a cock, t, having a stem, 15, provided with ahandle, 15, in proper position to be easily accessible to the rider. Thesaid cock 2? may be a threeway cock of usual construction, so that whenin one position it will permit the passage of air from the reservoir tointo the cylinder m, and when in another position will shut off the 7 5escape of air from the said reservoir a, but

permit the air to escape from the cylinder m,

thus relieving the pressure on the brake and leaving the vehicle free torun.

When, as is common in velocipedes, the 30 driving-wheel is positivelyconnected with some other moving part, as with a rotating pedal-shaft,it is obvious that the air-pump might be actuated from such part, orthat the retarding device might act upon it, and such 8 5 arrangementwould be the equivalent of that herein shown and described.

In another application filed by me August 31, 1885, similar mechanism tothat herein described is employed to exhaust a brake-cylinder, thusdispensing with an intermediate reservoir.

I claim- 1. In a velocipede, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities: an eccentric, 5

actuated by fluid-pressure caused by the firstmentioned cylinder, itspistonand actuating mechanism, a pipe having an air-controlling cock andconnecting the cylinder of the brakeactuating device with the tank orreservoir, and a brake connected with and actuated by the piston of thebrake-actuating device, all as set forth. I

2. The combination of the frame-Work and Wheel of a velocipede with anair-forcing de vice actuated by the said Wheel and connected vWith thesaid frame-Work, which constitutes a reservoir for the compressed air, abraking device actuated by the fluid-pressure, and a cock controllingits operation, substantially as described.

EDWARD P. HOWE.

Witnesses:

Jos. P. LIVERMORE, W. H. SIGS'ION.

